| Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is one of six Tuscan | | | | Tasting Note: The Nobile '03 from prugnolo gentile |
| wines that carry the supposedly top of the line | | | | with small amounts of merlot and cabernet |
| Italian DOCG classification where the G stands for | | | | sauvignon showed well. The nose starts out |
| guaranteed. However, if your wallet is brimming | | | | rather hesitantly but goes on to reveal perfectly |
| with cash or you don't mind maxing out your | | | | ripe, eloquently expressed fruit followed by lovely |
| credit cards you can find much, much better | | | | spicy notes. But it is on the palate that the wine |
| wines known as Super Tuscans. I won't be | | | | really comes into its own, displaying good extract, |
| reviewing any Super Tuscans, at least not until | | | | tanginess and energy. Score - 2 Glasses (out of |
| the economy turns around, but when the wine | | | | 3). |
| store had a sale I jumped on the chance to taste | | | | I first sipped this wine alone. It was mouth filling |
| the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a wine reputed | | | | and persistent. The Vino Nobile had a great |
| to date back to the mid-1300s. It is based on a | | | | balance of tannins and acidity. The first meal had |
| local clone of the Sangiovese grape that is found | | | | for starters barbecued chicken wings in a sweet |
| in so many Tuscan wines. You may remember | | | | and sour sauce. I tasted black cherries and |
| that 2003 was a scorching summer in many parts | | | | tobacco with oak in the finish. The main dish was |
| of the world. Tuscany was not spared and this | | | | barbecued spare ribs. With the ribs the tobacco |
| vintage was not considered to be one of the | | | | was predominant. So far so good. |
| best. I would relish the opportunity to do a tasting | | | | I next tasted this wine with a combination of rib |
| of multiple vintages of this wine. | | | | steak and shoulder steak slathered with a home |
| The city of Montepulciano is in southern Tuscany, | | | | made barbecue sauce composed of ketchup, |
| not far from the Umbrian border. It's a lovely | | | | mustard, garlic, lemon juice, and black pepper. The |
| Tuscan hill town with a Fifteenth Century square, | | | | Vino Nobile was noble; it was powerful with a |
| the Piazza Grande. If you are ready to spend a | | | | great balance among the soft tannins, fruits, and |
| lot try to stay in the Locanda dell'Amorosa which | | | | acidity. It was quite long. It really cut the grease |
| is even older. Before reviewing this wine here are | | | | of the potatoes roasted in chicken fat and picked |
| a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous | | | | up acidity when facing a tomato salsa salad. |
| wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with | | | | The final meal was a commercial shepherd's pie. |
| Animelle di Carciofi con Mousse de Mele al | | | | This time the predominant tastes were black |
| Calvados (Artichoke Hearts with | | | | cherry and oak, but I tasted tobacco as well. The |
| Apple-and-Calvados Mousse). For a second course, | | | | wine maintained its force when I added a spicy |
| eat Umbrichelli alla Norcina (Handmade Spaghetti | | | | jalapeno pepper sauce. |
| with Cream-and-Sausage Sauce). For dessert | | | | The first cheese tasting involved a Mozzarella |
| indulge in Cantucci (Almond Biscuits dipped in Vino | | | | which weakened the wine. A yellow Cheddar didn't |
| Santo, a Tuscan dessert wine). | | | | weaken the wine as much. In both cases the |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we | | | | wine was frankly wasted. Perhaps a better |
| taste and review are purchased at the full retail | | | | cheese would have made more sense. Moral of |
| price. This particular bottle was purchased at a | | | | the story, don't waste a fine wine such as this |
| public first come, first served sale. | | | | one on middling cheese. |
| Wine Reviewed | | | | Final verdict. I would jump out and buy more at |
| Canneto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2003 14.8% | | | | this price. But I think that I would pass at the |
| alcohol about $24 (normally about $32) | | | | regular price in my area. I remember some other |
| I'll start by quoting the marketing materials. | | | | Italian wines at that price which were even better. |
| "Description: Match it to a meat-based lasagna. | | | | |